Windshield wiper arm



'*T. J. SMULSKI WINDSI'IIELD WPER ARM Original Filed March 10, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 14-

` mvENToR Tbzoa'orz J Smu/s/n' BY @a TTOR I Patented Aug. 29, 1944 l.

WINDSHIELD WIPER. ARM

Theodore J. Smulski, Gary, Ind., assignor to Productive Inventions, Inc., a corporation of Indana' Original application March 10, 1941, Serial No.

382,503. Divided and this application December 24, 1942, Serial No. lil70,035

9 Claims.

My invention relates to windshield wiper arms and more particularly to multi-section arms which are suited for the replacement of various different original equipment windshield Awiper arms. This application is a division of my application for Windshield wiper arms, Serial No. 382,503 filed March 10, 1941, now Patent No. 2,326,402.

Each year When the automobile manufacturers announce new models of automobiles, numerous new shapes and sizes of windshield wiper arms v appear on these automobiles as original equipment; This has increased the number of different arms so greatly that the automobile service stations rind it an economic burden to attempt to carry an exact replacement arm for every armstill in use. Certain automobile manufacturers havev also recognized that it is highly desirable if their authorized automobile dealers and service stations would have available a suitable windshield wiper arm which could be used for the replacement oi worn or defective original equipment without the' disadvantage of a large inventory and the inconvenience encountered when the stock of the dealer or authorized service station does not have a particular windshield wiper arm.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention t provide an improvedwindsl'iield wiper arm which will overcome the above mentioned disadvantages and which will be simple and reliable in operation. g

It is another object of this invention to provide a windshield wiper arm which may be readily attached to the various different types of shaft members of windshield wiper mechanisms.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved Windshield wiper arm which may be swung or moved away from the windshield together with the wiping element and resilient-ly retained in such position to provide free and unf bstructed access to the surface of the windshied for washing or cleaning.

For a beth r understanding of this invention togethervwith further objects and advantages thereof, reference is had to the following desczipticn taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a top view of the wiper arm in the normal operative position;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the arm of Figure 1 when the arm is in a position moved away from the windshield;

Figure 3 is a bottom view of the wiper arm;

` Figure 4 is an exploded view of the adjustable tension leaf spring assembly of the wiper arm;

Figures 5a, 5b and 5c comprise top, side and end views of one of the parts of the wiper arm; Figure 6 is an enlarged view of a portion VI of the arm of Figure 2, showing the arrangement for permitting extensible adjustment of the arm and for retaining such adjustment in position;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional View showing how the inner section of the arm is attached to a different type windshield wiper shaft member;

Figure 8 illustrates the construction of a portion of the assembly of Figure '1;

Figure 9 is another view showing how the inner section of the arm is attached to another type of shaft member oi a windshield Wiper mechanism; Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view which shows a modified form of attachment means supported by the inner section of a Wiper arm;

Figure ll is a cross-sectional view of Figure 10 along. the lines Xi-XI; and

Figure 12 is a view from the inside of the inner section of the wiper arm attachment arrangement shown in Figure 10;

Figure 13 shows a wiper arm embodying cer- 'tain modifications of this invention; and

Figure la is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 1 3;

Figure 15 illustrates another manner of retaining the adjustable portions of the arm in position;

Figure 16 illustrates another modification of a manner of attaching the inner sections of wiper arms to the shaft members of Windshield wiper mechanisms.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings,

vI have shown therein a windshield wiper arm having an inner section 2li, an intermediate section 2l which is pivotally mounted on the inner section and an outer section Z2 which is mounted on and longitudinally adjustable with respect to the intermediate section 2 l. The inner section 20 is provided with means for securing the section to the shaft member Ztl of a windshield wiper mechanism. This shaft member 23 in some instances is an enlarged member having a serrated surface, and it is securely fastened to a smaller shaft 2t. The outer surface of the shaft member 23 is fractionally secured to the inner section of the wiper arm. The intermediate section 2l which is preferably of channel-like foration is pivotally mounted upon the inner section 26 by means of a Divot pin 25 which preferably is surrounded by a sleeve 26, the purpose of blade connector.

which presently will become apparent. A screw member 21, which is accessible from the top of the inner section or attachment housing 20 supports a clamping or wedge member 28 having a concave surface, which may be serrated, on one side; and on the opposite side a smooth surface which engages the thrust surface of the sleeve 26 to cause the concave surface of the clamping wedge to be thrust against the surface of the shaft member 23 upon actuation of the screw 21. It has been found preferable, in order to retain the screw member 21 and the clamping or wedge member 28 in easy readily operative relation to each other, to surround the screw member 21 with a coil spring I9 bearing against the Wedge member and the inner surface of the inner arm section 26. The inner. section 20 is furthermore provided with a contact member 29 which is engaged by a spring member mounted upon the intermediate section 2| to bias the remaining sections of the wiping arm toward or away from the Windshield.

An outer section 22 is mounted on and longitudinally adjustable with respect to the intermediate section 2l which has a portion of the channel adjacent its end tapered inwardly to form a guide for the outer section. The outer section 22 is provided at its free end with a windshield wiper blade attachment means which is pivotally mounted `at 30 so as to be angularly positioned to one side or the'other relative tosection 22 thereby to position the wiper blade in alignment with the edge of the Windshield onV either the right or left portions of the windshield. This attachment means does not form any part of my invention, but is the invention of John W. Anderson which is described and claimed in an application, Serial No. 282,008, filed June 30, 1939, now Patent No. 2,290,140 dated July 14, 1942, for a Windshield wiper arm and which is,assigned to the same assignee as the present application. This attachment means may be briefly described as a hook 3| which-is supported betweena pair of ears on a channel-like portion 32 which portion engages the sides of the windshield wiper The hook 3 I the channel member 32 and a cap 33 are assembled on the outer extremity of the outer section 22 by the pivot rivet 30.

The intermediate section 2| is provided with ay spring assembly, the parts of which are shown in exploded relation to each other in Figure 4. This spring assembly is supported on the inner portion of section 2| by a screw member 34 and inwardly turned portions 35 of the channel-like body4 of the section 2|. This spring assembly comprises a lever-like retainer 36 and one or more leaf spring members. The retainer lever 36 is provided at one end with a threaded aperture 31 for cooperation with the screw member 34, and at the opposite end with a pair of rocker portions 38 which engage the underside of the top portion of the channel-like body of the intermediate section 2|. The retainer member 36 has a channellike portion 39 for receiving a plurality of spring 1 members such as 40, 4| and 42 and which are retained in position by a recess 43 and an inwardly turned portion or portions 44 of the channel-like portion 39. The spring members 40 and 4| are each provided with suitable apertures 45 and 46 respectively, through whichithe lower extremity of the screw member 34 may extend without interfering with the operation of the wiper arm. The spring member 40 is provided at one extremity with Ia pair of surfaces 41 and 48 arranged at angles to each other so that they may selectively be engaged with'the contact member 29 of the inner wiper arm section 20. The other extremity of the spring member 40 is provided with a projection 49 which fits into the recess 43 of the assembly member 36. Directly underneath the projection 49 there is provided an indentation 50 which is adapted to receive the projection 5| on one extremity of the spring member 4l Similarly under the projection 5| of the spring member 4l there is a depression 52 adapted to receive a projection 53 located at an intermediate point of a spring member 42.r The leaf spring member 4| assists the spring member 40 -in applying a spring bias to the contact member 29 of the inner section 20. Aportion of the leaf spring ,42 further supplements the bias to be exerted on the inner section, and the remainder of the leaf spring 42 supplies bias to a bearing member 54. Adjacent to one extremity of the spring member 42 there is provided an aperture 55 for receiving a lug member 51 of the bearing sleeve 54 thereby to retain it in position. The bearingy member 54 and one extremity of the spring 42 are supported upon turned in portions 56 of the channel-like portion of the intermediatesection 2 In Figure '1 there is shown the inner section 2B lof the windshield wiper arm attached to a shaft member 58 of a windshield wiper actuating mechanism. This shaftmember 58 is provided with a tapered serrated vshoulder 59 and a reduced threaded portion 60. In some wiper mechanisms this typeof actuating shaft, is relatively hard and in other mechanisms it is relatively soft. In ordervto provide a member which can be mounted on any shaft irrespective to the de gree of hardness, an apertured metal cup 6| of soft steel is mounted so that the aperture will engage the serrated shoulder portion 59 of the actuating mechanism. In the event that the shoulder is of relatively softer material it would be desirable to provide a harder material for engagement therewith.. To this end there is provided a washer member 62 which has its inner and outer edge surfaces of serrated formation. The outer serrated edges of the Washer 62, which is illustrated in greater detail in Figure 8, engage the inner surfaces of the apertured metal cup 6I.

Inner serrated surfaces' of the washer 62 will bear against the taper shoulder 59. These two members, the cup 6| and the washer 62, are held in xed engagement with the taper shoulder 59 of the Wiper shaft 58 by means of a threaded nut or sleeve 63. The wedge 28 is adjusted by the screw member21 so as to force the wedge against the cup member 6| so that there is ygood frictional contact between the inner surface of the wiper arm section 20 and th outer surface of the metal cup 6|.. The intermediate and outer sections of the wiper arm are mounted upon the pivot pin 64 which has been shown as being provided with aisleeve 65 for engagement with the smooth edge of the wedge member 28.

In some instances the actuating mechanism of a windshield wiper is provided with a shaft of the type illustrated in Figure 9. The shaft 66 supported a wire arm vwhich engaged a hole near the end of the arm and which was retained by a keeper member engaging a groove portion 61. on the shaft 66. In order that the present arm may be used on such shaft a bushing or sleeve 68 is secured to the reduced portion of the shaft by means of a pin 69. The clamping member or greater portion of the sleeve 68 into frlctional engagement with the inner surface of the housing or inner arm section 20.

From the description and illustration ofthe '.cations shown in Figures '7 and 9 together with the arrangement shown in Figure 2, it will 'ne apparent that the arm shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is universally applicable to the Various types of shaft members of windshield wiper mechanisms. Thus substantially all types of wiper mechanisms still in use today may be tted with the present arm.

While there has been shown in Figures 2 and 3 a preferred form of wiper shaft engaging means for the inner section 20 of the Windshield wiper arm, another satisfactory' arrangement is illus trated in Figures to 12. In this arrangement the attachment housing or inner section 10 of a, windshield Wiper arm is provided with a pivot 1| to which the other section or sections of the arm i are attached. Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view looking in the direction of the lines X-X'of Figure 12; and Figure Il is a cross-sectional View looking in the direction of vthe lines XI-XI of Figure 10. From these figures it will be ,seen that the windshield wiper shaft member 12 is embraced by a flexible clamping band 13, the ends of which are arranged at angles to each other and to the plane of the body or circular portion of the band. Each of these ends is provided with a transversely located recess 14 in which there is mounted an actuating member 15. The actuatmore supported from the 'intermediate channel section 19 by one or more inwardly'bent portions 89 of the channel. An adjustment of thev screw member 88 changes the position of the spring retainer 82 with respect to the intermediate section 18 thereby changing the degree of spring bias exerted upon the contact member 85 of the inner section.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 13 it will 10' become apparent that the rocker portions 86 of lthe leaf spring retainer member 82 space the ends of the springs 83 and 84 a short distance away from the inner surface of the channel-like portion of the intermediate arm section 19, thus permitting the outer arm section 8l to be located within this space. This in turn permits the arm to be extended over a wider range than would be the case if this vspace were not provided. Thus in this arrangement the same advantage of wide 20 application of the arm for replacement purposes is lobtained as was set forth in connection with theembodiment shown in Figure 2.

The outer end of the intermediate section 19 is of channel formation having a portion tapered inwardly to form a guide for the outer section 8l.

In order that the outer section 8l may be readily adjusted to any desired position and retained in such adjusted position there is provided, las is shown in Figure 14, which is an enlarged view of the portion XIV of intermediate section 19 of Figing member 15 is supported by a screw member 16 which is mounted on the inner arm section 10 so as to be operable from the .top of the inner section. Since the ends of the band member are arranged at angles to each other it will become apparent that actuation of the member 15 by the screw 16 will tend to draw the ends of the band 15 together thereby securelyembracing the Wiper shaft member 12. While this band member has been illustrated as'embracing the shaft member of the type having a serrated edge, it of course will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the band member will be capable of securely fastening the arm to windshield Wiper actuated shafts which have been prepared with adaptor mechanisms similar to those illustrated in Figures '1 to 9. l

v wiper mechanism is embraced by a wedge and screw :member mounted within an inner arm section 18 or clamping housing similar to the arrangement illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. An intermediate arm section 19 is pivotally mounted upon a pivot pin 80 located upon the inner section 18. An outer section 8l is mounted on and longitudinally adjustable with respect to the in termediate section 19. The intermediate section 19 is provided with a spring assembly comprising a retainer member 82 which supports a plurality of leaf spring members such as 83 and 8d, at least one of which engag-es a Contact member 85 mounted adjacent one end of the inner section 18. The leaf spring retainer member 82 is of channel-like formation having rocker portions 83 which engage the inner side of the channel-like formation of the intermediate section 1Q. Adjacent one end of the retainer member there is a threaded aperture 81 which is engaged by a screw member 88 mounted upon an inwardly bent portion of the intermediate channel section 19. The spring assembly retainer B2 is furtherure 13, in the guide portion of the intermediate section 19 a split-sleeve bearing member 90 which substantially surrounds the outer section 19. The under portion of the split-sleeve bearing member 98 is of such configuration as to be fitted between two sets of inwardly formed portions 8l and 92 of the channel-like portion of the intermediate section 19. Another inwardly bent portion 93 of the intermediate channel section 18 o supports in position -a leaf spring 96 which bears against the underside of the split-sleeve bearing member e thereby applying a bias to frictionally lretain in position the outer section lil,

,While two embodiments or arrangements for 5 retaining in position the intermediate and outer sections of an arm have been shown, still another arrangement such -as shown in Figure 15 may be employed. In this arrangement the intermediate arm section 35 is provided with an inwardlyA bent 0 portion 98 of the channel which supports a lock- 4 The outer section of the arming member 31. 98 is located between the inner surface of the intermediate section 95 and the top surface of the locking member 31. The locking member 91 is formed so as to have stop members 93 at each end, and intermediate these end portions the locking member has surfaces arranged at angles to each other so that when the locking member 91 is moved outwardly toward the arm it acts as a lockingwedge.

In Figure 15 there is shown a modification of the structure of an inner section of a windshield wiper arm. In this modification the inner section 138 is formed of material having sufficient exibility so that this inner section may combine the functions of an inner section and a clamping or locking band such as shown at 13 in Figure l0. A portion of the inner section i serves as a cap and extending from the top of the cap are It will be apparent that this modication maybe used to an advantage where a very economic manufacture is necessary.

While I have shown certain particular embodiments of my invention, it is to-be 'understood that these are merely illustrated as to the principles disclosed. It will, of course, be understood that I donot wish to be limited thereto, since it is apparent that the principles herein disclosed are susceptible of numerous other applications and modifications may be made in the instrumentalities employed without departing from the spirit and scopeof my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

" What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is;

l. A windshield wiper Varm adapted to be attached to a Wiper actuating shaft provided with a cylindrical end member, comprising a housing adapted to receive said end member, means mounted within said housing for engaging said end lmember to secure said housing thereto including a screw mounted on said housing for adjustment exteriorly of said housing, and a Wedge member adjustably supported Vby said screw within said housing.

2. A Windshield wiper arm section adapted to be attached to a wiper actuating shaft provided with a collar portion, comprising a housing adapted to nt over said collar portion, means mounted within said housing for securing said housinggto said collar portion including an adjustable screw mountedy from the top of said housing, a wedge member supported within said housing and arranged to bel actuated by said screw, and resilient means operating between said wedge and said housing.

3. The combination comprising a windshield wiper armhaving means for attaching said arm to a shaft member of a windshield wiper mechanism, said means comprising a thrust surface for a wedge member, a wedge member positioned between said thrust vsurface andA said shaft memmounted on said wiper arm section for securely fastening said arm to said metal cup.

6. The combination comprising an inner section of a multi-section windshield wiper arm and metal than said cup, said outer edges engaging ber, and screw means mounted on said windshield wiper arm for adjustably positioning said wedge member between s'aid thrust surface and said shaft member.

4. The combination comprising an'inner section of a multi-section windshield wiper arm and an actuating shaft of a windshield wiper mechanism, a sleeve mounted on said shaft, said inner section being provided with a pin having a surrounding loose sleeve thereon, a screw member carried by said section, a Wedge member mounted on and actuated by said screw member, said wedge member provided with a serrated concave surface for engagement with the sleeve mounted on saidv wiper shaft, Asaid wedge member having a surface opposed to said concave surface for engagement with said pin-surrounding sleeve for causing' said wedge to be thrust against said wiper shaftsleeve upon actuation of said screw member.

5. The combination comprising the inner section of a multi-section Windshield wiper arm and an actuating shaft of a wiper mechanism, said actuating shaft having a serrated tapered shoulder and a threaded stud, an apertured metal cup mounted against said tapered shoulder, a washer- I mounted within said cup, said washer having serrated inner and outer edges and being of harder metal than said cup, said outer edges engaging the inner surface of said cup to securely fasten said washer to said cup, a threaded member mounted on said threaded stud for forcing said cup and said Washer against said tapered shoulder, said wiper arm inner section being provided with means for attaching said arm to said metal cup comprising a screw member carried by said" section, a wedge member mounted upon and actuated by said screw member, said wedge member being provided with a concave surface for engagement with the outer surface of said metal cup, and being provided vwith an opposed surface, and abutment means carried by said inner section and engageable with said opposed surface of the wedge to thrust said wedge against said metal cup.

7. A multi-section wiping arm Vsection adapted to be attached to a shaft member of a windshield wiper mechanism, saidsection having a metal band adapted to embrace said shaft member, said band having end portions arranged at angles to each other and at angles to the plane of the body of said band, each end being provided with a transversely located recess, an operating member located within said recesses, and ascrew `member mounted on said section, said screw member adjustably supporting said operating member whereby said metal band may be adjusted and fixed to secure said section to a shaft member of a windshield wiper mechanism.

8. In a windshield wiper having an actuating shaft provided with a cylindrical end member, the combination comprising an inner section of a wiper arm having a base portion, spaced sides and a rounded end portion, said rounded end portion being adapted to nt freely over the cylindrical end member of a wiper actuating shaft, a headed screw having the stem portion thereof passed freely through said base portion of said section to the interior thereof, a Wedge threadedly engaged and supported by the stem portion of said screw, and means engaged by said wedge whereby said section may be secured to said cylindrical encl member.

9. In a windshield wiper having an actuating shaft provided with a cylindrical end member, the combination of an inner section of a wiper arm having a channel portion terminating in a housing portion adapted'to fit freely over the cylindrical end member of a wiper actuating shaft,` a headed screw mounted :with the headV thereof on the exterior of the base of said chan- THEODORE J. sMULsKi. 

